Current and former Springboks head coaches Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber, alongside Nick Mallett.
Former Springboks head coach Nick Mallett reportedly resigned in disgust from the World Rugby Awards panel after South Africa were snubbed in the coach category.
The 68-year-old, who guided the Boks to a then-world record 17 consecutive Test wins in 1997, had been part of the panel from 2015.
According to Rapport, Mallett was unhappy that Jacques Nienaber was not named World Rugby Coach of the Year in 2023 after the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup success.
Farrell over Nienaber
Ireland’s Andy Farrell was instead given the honour, but Mallett felt that the award should always be given to the boss of the World Cup-winning team.
It is also claimed that the ex-Boks head honcho was also unimpressed in 2015 when Australia’s Michael Cheika was selected ahead of New Zealand’s Steve Hansen, despite the All Blacks lifting the Webb Ellis Cup.
He did not return to judge in 2024 with Milton Haig, Mario Ledesma, Melodie Robinson and Danielle Waterman on the panel this year.
They controversially chose France sevens boss Jérôme Daret as the World Rugby Coach of the Year with the Springboks once again snubbed.
Rassie Erasmus, who won the award in 2019, missed out despite leading South Africa to their first Rugby Championship title in five years.
The Boks also had a record of 11 wins and just two losses as they finished the year at the top of the World Rugby rankings, ahead of the All Blacks and Ireland.
John Smit resigns
Mallett was not the only former Springbok to leave the panel, with the legendary captain John Smit also stepping down from his position.
Like Mallett, Smit, who helped pick the World Rugby Player of the Year, was reportedly unhappy with the nominations for the 2023 award.
South Africa may have won the World Cup but they were only represented by Eben Etzebeth, with Antoine Dupont, Bundee Aki and eventual winner Ardie Savea also on the list.
However, according to Rapport, the 46-year-old’s decision was not due to his dissatisfaction over last year’s nominations, with a source telling the outlet that he resigned “because he has already served on the panel for four years.”
A World Rugby spokesperson said: “It is natural to have debate and differences. It is not an easy task.”
Smit was replaced by fellow South African legend Victor Matfield, who joined Jacques Burger, Fiona Coghlan, Thierry Dusautoir, Drew Mitchell, Ugo Monye, Kieran Read, Robinson and Blaine Scully on the panel.
South Africa were well represented this year as Pieter-Steph du Toit was crowned World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year, while team-mates Etzebeth and Cheslin Kolbe were also nominated.
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